Wells Fargo Center Sets 2014-15 Clover Stornetta Family Fun Series: SLEEPING BEAUTY, Peking Acrobats & More

Wells Fargo Center for the Arts continues to provide the finest family entertainment with a new-lineup of educational and interactive performances in Santa Rosa. Today, the Center announced the 2014-2015 Clover Stornetta Family Fun Series, featuring eight shows for young audiences and their families. Commencing in the fall, the series will delight audiences of all ages with performances that will showcase a pop culture phenomenon, the world's finest acrobats, favorite children's book characters brought to life, classic tales, glow-in-the-dark characters and more! To round out the year-long series, each performance includes free family art projects before each show and post-show opportunities to meet the cast.

"With the Clover Stornetta Family Fun series, the Center is able to introduce young audiences to the performing arts and provide a venue for children to discover the world around them, experience new cultures and learn important life lessons," says Executive Director Rick Nowlin. "Because of the continued support of Clover Stornetta, we are able to provide tickets at an accessible price, to allow as many families as possible to participate."

The Clover Stornetta Family Fun Series kicks-off on Friday, October 10, 2014, with a pop culture phenomenon, Schoolhouse Rock Live!, performed by Childsplay. Based on the hit Saturday morning cartoon series that taught history, grammar, math, and more, Schoolhouse Rock Live! explodes onto the stage with songs updated for a whole new generation. Academic subjects are exciting and unforgettable when when presented through megahits like "Conjunction Junction," "Just a Bill," "Interplanet Janet" and "Three is a Magic Number."

The series continues with Peter Gros of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom on Friday, November 7, 2014, in which Peter Gros will introduce exotic animals to audience members, while sharing videos, and inspirational stories from his work. With his story-telling and animal guests, the beloved former co-host and current ambassador of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom (Animal Planet) will speak about wildlife conservation and filming with an array of timeless tales of the animal world and travel experiences.

Back by popular demand, The Peking Acrobats return to the Center on Wednesday, January 21, 2015, for an awe-inspiring theatrical experience featuring China's most gifted tumblers, contortionists, jugglers, cyclists, and gymnasts. For more than 51 years, The Peking Acrobats have held audiences spellbound with vibrant presentations of their ancient folk art. The performance features live musical accompaniment from an accomplished ensemble and promises to range "from seemingly impossible to the virtually unbelievable" (Los Angeles Times).

On Friday, February 27, 2015, the Center presents Junie B. Jones by TheatreworksUSA, in the "bestest musical ever." Based on Barbara Park's adored children's books, the show follows the adventures of Junie B. Jones, a feisty, outspoken first-grader. Audiences join Junie as she helps the cafeteria lady; deals with her tattletale nemesis, May; and tries to put on a halftime show for her school's kickball tournament! Kids will love Junie B.'s humorous observations about the world from her top-secret personal beeswax journal.

In March, American Family Theater will perform the classic fairy tale, Sleeping Beauty, on Wednesday, March 18, 2015. Filled with whimsy, excitement, and wonderful music, Sleeping Beauty has all the elements that kids love. From the birth of a princess to the kiss that awakens love, the production features a terrific cast, unforgettable songs, full-scale sets, costumes and a touch of magic.

The unique and visually dazzling Dino-Light, lights up the Center on Tuesday, April 15, 2015. Performed by Corbian Visual Arts and Dance in collaboration with Lightwire Theater, Dino-Lite was featured on "America's Got Talent" and showcases a world of glow-in-the-dark characters created out of neon light. Praised for its cutting-edge blend of puppetry, technology and dance, the show tells the story of a lonely scientist that creates a friendly dinosaur named Darwin and sends him out into the world to discover the "evolution of love." The scientist becomes worried and as he sets out to look for his creation, he gets caught up in the adventure.

Later that month, on Tuesday, April 28, 2015, Vital Theatre Company brings Fancy Nancy The Musical to the stage. Nancy and her friends Bree, Rhonda, Wanda and Lionel will be performing in their very first show, "Deep Sea Dances" and Nancy must bring fancy flair to her role in the show as a dreary, dull tree, even though it wasn't the role that she wanted. Based on the popular children's books by Jane O'Connor, the fun-filled musical brings Fancy Nancy and her friends to life on the stage.

The season culminates with Choo-Choo Soul with Genevieve! on Sunday, May 17, 2015. Genevieve and her beat-boxing engineer, DC, will present modern renditions of the ABCs, 1-2-3s, and songs about being polite as she drives her train through fantastical lands while singing contemporary, kid-friendly hip-hop songs. Based on the popular shorts airing daily on the Disney Channel, Choo-Choo Soul with Genevieve presents music that can be enjoyed by kids and adults alike.

4-show and 8-show season ticket packages to the 2014-2015 Clover Stornetta Family Fun Series are now available. Season ticket packages range from $50 - $80 for children, and $68 - $112 for adults. Season ticket packages are available by phone at 708-546-3600, or at the Ticket Office located at 50 Mark West Springs Road in Santa Rosa.

Single tickets will go on sale Friday, August 23 at noon. Tickets for individual shows range from $17 - $21 for adults and $12 - $16 for children and are available at wellsfargocenterarts.org, by phone at 707-546-3600, or at the Ticket Office located at 50 Mark West Springs Road in Santa Rosa.